THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshould
duas vezes
twiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepúblico
public.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenI
favoreci
favoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethe
público
publicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experiência
experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthe
famoso
famous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.Thetruth
parece
seemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthevento
wind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprintedbook,
lançado
thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecerto
certaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnatureza
nature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,
no entanto
however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,
a menos que
unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginar
imaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,as
explicando
explaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasoferecendo
offeringproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytrue
posição
positionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapessoal
personalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
exceto
except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetide
muitas vezes
oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,
durante
duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,
em vez
insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitar
militarypostofUncleSam’sgoverno
governmentishereestablished.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,
apoiando
supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,a
monte
bunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakand
olho
eye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;and
especialmente
especiallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
imaginando
imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenough
crescendo
growinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenusado
wornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,
porém
however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaor
Sul
SouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentpés
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhis
braço
arm,inatarnishedtincaixa
box.Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeen
realizado
realizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtoouro
gold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretomonte
ridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethe
inteligente
smartyoungclerk,whogetsthegosto
tasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Another
figura
figureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
Nem
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythe
grupo
group,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringcena
scene.Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitwere
verão
summertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainsttheparede
wall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackof
energia
energythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteen
pés
feetsquare,andofaloftyheight;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,
rir
laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
its
chão
floorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasytoconclude,fromthe
geral
generalslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagia
magic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,and
forma
formsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,
honrado
honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessor
usa
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,the
força
forceofwhichIhaveneverpercebi
realizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthe
selvagem
wildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeen
nasceram
bornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nem
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
The
figura
figureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresente
presenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothe
atual
presentphaseofthetown.I
pareço
seemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesocedo
early,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesogrande
largeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,cujo
whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,
juiz
judge;hewasarulerinthe
Igreja
Church;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobe
temer
feared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecuting
espírito
spirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.Sodeepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!
Iknownot
se
whethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofCéu
Heavenfortheircruelties;or
se
whethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherestado
stateofbeing.Atallevents,I,the
presente
presentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytakevergonha
shameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andrezar
praythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftheraça
race,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,
porém
however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilyárvore
tree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,
através
acrossthegulfoftime!Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheir
natureza
naturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,the
raça
racehaseversincesubsistedhere;always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbya
único
singleunworthymember;butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimto
público
publicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,forabovea
cem
hundredyears,theyfollowedthemar
sea;agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,
passou
passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,passou
spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.
Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeign
terra
land,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhis
terceiro
thirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothelugar
spotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudanddust,thedead
nível
levelofsiteandsentiment,thechillleste
eastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimaginar
imagine,arenothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatal
local
spotwereanearthlyparadise.Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeofthe
raça
racelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisan
evidência
evidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Human
natureza
naturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythis
estranho
strange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,
nem
northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitparecia
seemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
I
duvido
doubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotduvido
doubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitar
militaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
amanover
cuja
whosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmy
departamento
department,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostonevery
mar
sea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinalmente
finallydriftedintothisquietnook;where,withlittletodisturbthem,
exceto
excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.Thoughbynomeans
menos
lessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,
durante
duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothe
quente
warmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermeddever
duty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothe
acusação
chargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywere
permitiram
allowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sserviço
service,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficient
espaço
spacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Housefuncionário
officermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonthe
estrada
roadtoParadise.ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,
cujas
whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepessoal
personaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamês
monthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortof
dever
duty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofa
voz
voice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyheartto
agir
actupontheknowledge.Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,they
continuaram
continued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.They
passaram
spentagooddealoftime,also,dormindo
asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainsttheparede
wall;awaking,however,onceor
duas vezes
twiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththevários
severalthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.Thediscoverywassoonmade,I
imagino
imagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthat
permitia
allowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededto
trancar
lock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithfita
tapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Em vez
Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseparecia
seemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
A menos que
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhich
geralmente
usuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andforma
formsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmy
posição
positioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.Itwaspleasant,inthe
verão
summerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainsttheparede
wall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethana
profundo
deepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothe
verde
greenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,
no entanto
however,itisrealsunshine;intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbe
triste
sadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityand
energia
energy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksof
idade
ageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.But,as
respeito
respectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperiência
experienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohave
armazenado
storedtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmore
interesse
interestandunctionoftheirmorning’salmoço
breakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasa
certo
certainpermanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenue
sistema
system,dyedinthewool,or,rather,nascido
borninthepurple;sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,and
certamente
certainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’sbusca
search.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompact
figura
figure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedazul
bluecoat,hisbriskandvigorouspasso
step,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureza
Natureintheshapeofman,whomidade
ageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.His
voz
voiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhis
sistema
system,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeidade
age,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.Thecareless
segurança
securityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodúvida
doubtcontributedtomaketimepassar
passlightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,
no entanto
however,layintherareperfectionofhisanimal
animalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthat
crescia
grewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddever
dutyveryrespectably,andtogeral
generalacceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewould
supor
suppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryoffthe
todo
entireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchand
estudar
studythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherforma
formofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadno
alma
soul,noheart,nomind;